Here are the 10 most stolen cars in Ontario for 2022
With car theft on the rise in Ontario, you may be wondering how big a target your car is.
The Équité Association, an organization that works to eliminate crime on behalf of the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry, released a list of the 10 most stolen cars in the province last year.
Topping the list are the Honda CR-V, which was also the most stolen vehicle in the country, the Lexus RX series and the Dodge Ram 1500 series.
The organization says car thefts increased by 48 per cent in Ontario and by 50 per cent in Quebec in 2022 compared to the previous year, which it said are “historic highs.” The organization said in a press release that these numbers put Canada in the spotlight as a “source country for illicit trade.”
He added, “Vehicles are being stolen by local and international criminal organizations, as their proceeds fund local drug smuggling and international terrorism.”
On Tuesday, the organization issued lists of the 10 most stolen vehicles and 10 least stolen vehicles in Canada in 2022, with their distribution at the regional level.
Here are the 10 most stolen cars in Ontario, ranked by number of thefts:
Organized crime groups tend to target vehicles that are in high demand in other parts of the world, Brian Gast, vice president of investigative services at Equity Association, said in an interview.
“It’s an interesting list. It’s basically the vehicles targeted by organized crime groups that really dominate the top 10 — SUVs, pickup trucks, newer models, larger vehicles,” he said.
“When these criminals are looking for vehicles, they know exactly which brands they want.”
As for the CR-V, it would likely be a target due to the number of cars on the road and their global serviceability.
“There’s a demand for it. It’s very serviceable globally. It’s easy to get replacement parts. There are a lot of them,” Gast said.
The organization also released the 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada by frequency of theft, ranked by the number of times a particular make or model has been stolen, compared to the number of makes or models insured.
“Canada is a leading exporter of stolen cars.”
In a news release Tuesday, Gast said the car theft problem in Ontario and the rest of Canada is getting worse.
“Organized crime still views Canada as a source country for stolen vehicles where the financial reward is high and the risk of prosecution is low,” he said.
The least stolen cars in Ontario for 2022 are by number of thefts:
- Cadillac XTS.
- Fiat 500.
- Ford/Lincoln Escape/Corsair.
- Buick Verano.
- Chevrolet Impala.
- Buick/Chevrolet Enclave/Traverse.
- Toyota Yaris.
- Volvo XC60.
- Nissan Micra hatchback.
- Hyundai Kona.
The least stolen cars in Canada for 2022 are ranked by frequency of theft:
- Chevrolet Volt.
- Kia Niro 5DR.
- Cadillac XT5.
- Imagine Buick.
- Mini Cooper Countryman.
- Volvo XC90.
- Volkswagen Beetle.
- Chevrolet Corvette.
- Hyundai Ioniq.
- Mazda Mazda 2.
According to the organization, nine of the most popular model years stolen in Canada are 2019 or newer because criminals try to maximize their profits by selling the vehicle abroad or changing the vehicle’s registration numbers to sell to “unsuspecting” buyers in Canada. Changing the number to a fraudulent one is a process known as return wine.
The organization provides information about car theft to curb growing trends and keep Canadians safe from the influence of organized crime, Terry O’Brien, president and CEO of Équité, said in the release.
“Canadians expect to see a collaborative approach to combating the urgent and ongoing national car theft crisis,” O’Brien said. “This problem will not be solved in isolation; we need meaningful change and collaborative solutions embraced by automakers, all levels of government, and law enforcement.”
Police say car theft is a big issue in Toronto
The number of car thefts in Toronto has increased dramatically in the past few years, doubling since 2019 making car theft a significant problem in the city and across the city, Stephanie Sayer, a spokeswoman for the Toronto Police Service, said in an email Tuesday. JTA.
“Thieves steal vehicles, then use those vehicles to commit other violent crimes, or they ship them overseas, where they are resold, or they are redecorated and sold locally,” Sayre said.
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Sayer said 10,407 vehicles had been reported stolen in Toronto in 2023 as of Nov. 13. This compares to 8,184 vehicles reported stolen during the same time period in 2022.
“We have investigators around the clock working aggressively to address car thefts in the city. This case is very complex because the demand for stolen cars is so high, and the criminals are highly motivated,” Sayre said.
How can vehicle owners protect themselves?
Just said he recommends vehicle owners make it more difficult for thieves to steal their cars. He said it’s important to remember that thieves want to steal vehicles quickly, and anything that takes more time will act as a deterrent.
“We are working to make vehicle theft more difficult primarily with the manufacturers,” he said.
Until that happens, the organization recommends a “layered” approach.
Gast says thieves can enter cars by intercepting the lock signal sent by the key fob, which can take less than 30 seconds, or by manually breaking in and plugging into the car’s diagnostic port to reprogram the key fob and start the car.
Having multiple layers of protection can include using the steering wheel or diagnostic port lock, parking your vehicle in a garage or well-lit area, using aftermarket tracking services or devices and reporting any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
The police recommend the following:
- If you have a garage, park your car in it and close the doors.
- Consider purchasing a steering wheel lock, such as The Club, which is difficult to remove and acts as a visual deterrent.
- Consider installing a vehicle tracking system that uses GPS technology.
- Install an ignition kill switch, which will prevent your car from starting without starting it.
- Have your car windows etched with your vehicle identification number – it’s another visual deterrent that thieves cost to remove.
